Creamed Spinach

By: Mark Hyman

What if a fire station announced that if the firefighters ate creamed spinach for Tuesday’s dinner there would be no fires on Wednesday? They try it one Tuesday. There are no fires the next day. And they celebrate their success in fire prevention. Ridiculous, huh?

This is how the US intelligence community operates.

Full disclosure: for 26 years I was in the intelligence community – both in the military and as a civilian. My assignments included CIA, DIA, NSA, NRO [Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, National Reconnaissance Office] and other agencies.

The intelligence community would get sketchy information a terrorist attack would occur at a certain time and location. Vigilance would be increased. Practices altered. And no attack would occur.

The intelligence community would congratulate themselves for having stopped a terrorist attack. Maybe. But the more likely answer was the intel was bogus. It was creamed spinach.

House Intelligence Chairman Mike Roger’s claim that the NSA spying on Americans stopped a terrorist attack is not credible.

Here’s why. This administration never misses an opportunity to hold a press conference so the president can claim credit for giving orders that led to a foreign policy success. Especially as he sought reelection. There doesn’t appear to have been one in this case. No arrest or capture was announced. Creamed spinach.

Unfortunately, the intel community grades its own report card without scrutiny.

About The Author Mark Hyman:Mark Hyman hosts "Behind the Headlines," a commentary program for Sinclair Broadcast Group.